One of the remaining four victims has been identified but the family had not been notified by Thursday evening, said John Gagliano, chief coroner's investigator. The coroner's office continues to try to identify the remaining three victims.

The victims died when the warehouse they were sleeping in, located near the corner of St. Ferdinand and North Prieur streets, burned in a two-alarm fire about 2 a.m. Two dogs also died in the blaze.

Two survivors told firefighters that the five men and three women staying in the building were squatters. The survivors also told firefighters the occupants had been burning trash and other materials in a large barrel to keep warm on a night when the temperature hovered around 32 degrees.

Two days after the fire, those who knew the victims were still trying to come to grips with the loss of what one person called a "family."

At a memorial for the victims on Thursday, fellow "trainhoppers" sat on the charred remains of the warehouse, reminiscing about their friends.

One man in a blue bandanna and dirty overalls sat motionless before a makeshift shrine consisting of stuffed animals, cans of beer and what remained of the victims' belongings.

Another man at the warehouse' burned shell Thursday evening said Guerrero, the victim who friends said was from Arlington, Texas, was "a sweetheart."

The man, who identified himself only as Georgia J., said Guerrero wanted to help transform the warehouse into a bicycle collective and do-it-yourself shop.

"He was a caring guy," Georgia said of Guerrero, who went by the nickname "Carwash."

"He just wanted to give the kids bikes.

"I'm going to remember him as smiling and happy. He was trying to do something with his life and for the community."

Geerts' father, Jack Geerts, said his son loved traveling and music. Before living in New Orleans, Jeffrey Geerts lived in Seattle and planned on moving to Florida soon, Jack Geerts said.

"He was fed up with the system in the United States," Jack Geerts said in a phone interview. "The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer."

Geerts said he last saw his son in April before he left for New Orleans and spoke to him on the phone Christmas day. "He sounded pretty happy. He had a girlfriend and a couple of dogs."

Jack Geerts said he wasn't sure where his son was living or what he was doing in New Orleans, but he loved blues and rock music.

Simianer's aunt said her niece was trained as a welder and was a "gentle soul" adored by her family. She and her friends were "free spirits," traveling across the country when the mood struck, said Linda Baker.

"They would one day wake up and go to Wisconsin," Baker said. "Katie wanted to see different places in the United States."

Martinez was "just a young girl trying to find her way," said Emile Seibert, a day manager at Mona's Café in Faubourg Marigny where Martinez worked. "She was sweet, even a little timid."

Martinez had never been late for work during a month of employment there, but hadn't come in since the day of the fire, Seibert said.

"Little pieces have been falling together, and I was afraid something bad had happened," he said.

Martinez's grandmother, Joan Lucero, of Broomfield, Colo., said Martinez was born in Scotts Valley, Calif., and lived there with her dad until last year, when she moved to New Orleans to be with her mom.

Lucero said Martinez was a happy girl with "the best smile."

"She had everything she wanted," Lucero said, adding that Martinez's father is devastated at the loss. "He won't even take phone calls right now."

At the scene of the fire Tuesday, several mourners said they believed a New Orleans resident, Samuel "Sammy" Thompson, died in the fire. On Thursday, Beth Penot, his aunt, said the coroner's office has not yet confirmed that Thompson perished in the fire, but the family believes he died at the warehouse, as friends indicated he slept there.

Since the fire, Thompson also has not been seen at his regular haunts, such as a local bicycle shop. Several people who knew Thompson said he was known among the young people who hung out at bars like the St. Roch Tavern for his kindness and ability to repair bicycles.

Thompson was raised in the New Orleans region, said Penot, who lives in Kenner. Although he struggled in school, Thompson always tested as "very, very smart," she said. "He was one of these kids who couldn't be tied down."

While the coroner's office works to identify the remaining victims, their friends continue to hold out hope but fear the worst.

Adam Staniszewski, 24, came to New Orleans from Pittsburgh early last month with a friend. That friend, Staniszewski believes, died in the fire.

He said the two were interested in visiting the city and were having a great time.

Staniszewski knew a friend who had an apartment in New Orleans, but that friend hadn't yet arranged a place for his traveling partner.

The two met squatters who were cleaning out the North Prieur Street warehouse, so Staniszewski's friend stayed and helped with the work while Staniszewski stayed at his other friend's apartment.

"It was just a rotating cast of people," Staniszewski said of the crew that stayed at the warehouse. If he hadn't known anyone in town, "it could've just as easily been me in there," he said.

Staniszewski knew his friend for a couple of years. When he heard about what happened, he rode a bicycle to the warehouse as fast as he could.

"It was the most horrendous day of my life," he said.

Drew Rodkey, 21, from Philadelphia, said he also could have just as easily died in the fire. Rodkey said he came to New Orleans earlier in the week and had friends who told him he could stay at the warehouse.

"It was great place where cops wouldn't bother you," he said. "All these people had already gone through the trouble of setting this up. It was such a sincere effort. ... But something always happens. Cops stop you, or it gets razed, or somebody does something ... stupid and ... burns it down."

Mamie Smith, a 77-year-old Holy Cross resident, visited the site with her daughter to leave flowers, even though she did not know the victims.

"The only one thing I can say, the feeling I have now is for their parents. Why this place wasn't torn down before this ... it wouldn't have happened," she said.

Misty McCall, who used to train-hop and now, at 32, travels the country in a van, knew all the victims. She was squatting at a nearby house the night of the fire.

People who panhandle and lack permanent homes are often looked down upon, she said, but the victims "were our friends. They were incredible people."

Tyrone Keelen of the Drop-In Center, a homeless assistance center, visited the scene to offer socks and canned food to the transient youth who gathered to pay respects to the victims. He helped many of the victims and delivered the grim news by phone to several of the families, he said.

Trainhoppers are normal kids who stay in touch with their families but are going through a rebellious phase, he said. The city needs shelters specifically designed for them because they are unlikely to stay in regular homeless shelters, he added.